Binge Eating Therapy

Friday Q & A- I’ve tried everything to stop binge eating but I can’t

i can't stop binge eating and I don't know what to do nextQuestion:

Two years ago I was diagnosed with BED. Since, its only gotten worse. Especially these last 6 months. I’ve gone no more than 3 days in a row without binging. My binges are extreme: I mean eating until the point of illness. Stealing food from my housemates. Eating from a garbage. Spending bill money on binges. And the thing is I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried adding more protein. I’ve tried eating 3 meals a day. I tried eating every 2 hours. I’ve tried yoga, veganism, behavioural therapy, meditation. I’m scared. It’s ruining my life. It’s prevented me from studying, going out to eat with friends, ruined my relationship with my housemate, I even skipped an exam once because I was in bed sobbing from a binge.

What do I go from here?
Kristina
Answer:
Oh Kristina,
My heart is with you so strongly. I can hear how desperate you feel and how it just seems like you’re drowning under the weight of your own life. I can see what you have tried, all the different therapies, all the different ways of eating, but the one thing that you don’t mention is any kind of support group.  Meditation, behavioral changes, nutritional enhancement and yoga can all be helpful, but it might be that you cannot do it alone right now.  I often think that when an eating disorder is as pervasive and all -encompassing as your is, that it’s important to have others around to help you pull out of it. Your eating disorder is a strong  evil dictator. Alone you cannot beat an evil dictator, you need an army to come in and help you overthrow him.  My sense is that you shouldn’t be doing this alone.  You should try to find a treatment program – check Edreferral.  If you are not able to go into a treatment program due to money or time constraints, you should find a 12 step group like Eating Disorders Anonymous or if that group isn’t available, Overeaters Anonymous and really jump in. Go to a meeting, get a sponsor. Alone, it’s easy to fail, but when you have a support group, an army behind you, you can find your strength in others when you feel that you have no strength left. Binge eating is very possible to heal from. But sometimes, it’s hard to do it alone. Once you get some momentum and a whole group of people who want you to win, you might find healing to be a bit more gentle. As for  nutritional extremes such as veganism– when healing from an eating disorder, especially binge eating, it’s best not to put extreme restrictions on your eating as these often lead to binges. So, everything in moderation. No low carb, no going vegan, no extreme anything, just try to find a middle ground. Moderation is the opposite of bingeing.
Do you have a question about binge eating, bulimia, anorexia, or anything associated with eating disorders? Send an email to bingeeatingtherapy  at gmail dot com. All questions will be kept confidential. Include your first name or the name you want to be referred to as and your location. Are you interested in online therapy to deal with your eating disorder? Please see my website or email me to discuss getting started. 
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